Supporting the preservation and operation of paddle steamers Waverley and Kingswear Castle
In 1898 P & A Campbell sent their Cambria to compete with the paddle steamers running from Southampton and Bournemouth. The Southampton Company (later Red Funnel) responded by building the even larger Balmoral to fight back. She ran her first cruise for invited guests on 17th July 1900: 17th July 1900: Balmoral – Kingswear Castle
Jump in the time-machine and travel back nearly 80 years to 16th July 1947 to Bournemouth. What paddle steamer opportunities were on offer that day?: 16th July 1947: Embassy, Monarch and Princess Elizabeth – Kingswear Castle
On 15th July 1960, Cosens paddle steamer Consul ran the first of four day trips that season from Weymouth to Totland Bay IOW. To find out how she did it that day and how the tide massively affected this trip check out: 15th July 1960: Consul – Kingswear Castle
Rather surprisingly, given that it happened at the opposite end of the country, the Dorset Echo of 10 January 1934 reported that the Clyde paddle steamer Lucy Ashton had run into a shoal of herring off Kilcreggan, with hundreds of fish spun into the air by her paddle wheels. It was such a bizarre little…
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Half a century ago, Capt Arthur Escudier (right) carried hundreds of thousands of passengers between Weymouth, the Channel Islands and France. His quiet competence — and the man himself — are remembered in the June Pictures of the Month on the KC website: June 2026: Capt Arthur Escudier – Kingswear Castle
Ever wondered if paddle steamer captains received pensions? To find out more check out the March Pictures of the Month on the KC website: March 2026: Paddle Steamer Captain Pensions – Kingswear Castle
Three captains all living in the same road in Weymouth overlooking Portland Harbour with two of them in the same house? To find out more check out the Pictures of the Month on the Kingswear Castle website: February 2026: Three Sandsfoot Captains – Kingswear Castle
Is Bognor Regis maybe one of the more forgotten UK paddle steamer piers? To find out more check out the November Pictures of the Month on the KC website: November 2025: Paddle Steamers at Bognor – Kingswear Castle
Don’t forget that a post pops up on the Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle website every day of the year about what some paddle steamer or other was doing somewhere, sometime in the past on this day. At present there are 410 of them to be enjoyed: Megoran’s Musings – Kingswear Castle
Last month we looked at what KC was up to 40 years ago in July 1985. This month we continue the story with her sailings in September and October 1985: September 2025: KC’s Log September/October 1985 – Kingswear Castle
In 1930 the Southern Railway built two giant paddle steamers for their services from Portsmouth. To find out more, including about their calls at Bournemouth, check out the Pictures of the Month on the KC website: August 2025: Whippingham at Bournemouth – Kingswear Castle
In her first season back in service in July 1985 KC ran on 26 operating days from her base at The Historic Dockyard Chatham. Take a look at her log for that month all those years ago and find out what she was up to: July 2025: KC’s Log July 1985 – Kingswear Castle
To take a look at some rare pics of PS Consul laid up at Weymouth check out the Pictures of the Month on the KC website: July 2025: Consul Laid Up at Weymouth – Kingswear Castle
What paddle steamers were running from Weymouth in 1934 and what trips did they offer? To find out more click here: June 2025: Weymouth Paddle Steamers 1934 – Kingswear Castle
VE Day on 8th May 1945 started to unlock the doors and focus minds on a return to peace time excursions. To find out more check out the post on the KC website: VE Day Unlocks Doors – Kingswear Castle
Ever wondered how the Dresden paddle steamers are slipped at the Laubegast Shipyard in Germany? Then take a look at this video filmed last week as PS Krippen was put back in the water ready for the 2025 season after her refit. The video is shot in real time. It takes quite a while. Nothing…
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In 1936 Red Funnel had a fleet of twelve paddle steamers and one motor vessel. What were they all up to and how did they fill their days? To find out more check out the May Pictures of the Month on the Kingswear Castle website: May 2025: Red Funnel 1936/39 – Kingswear Castle
Since it was built in 1876 Yarmouth Pier IOW has hosted very many paddle steamers. To find out more check out the April Pictures of the Month on the Kingswear Castle website: April 2025: Yarmouth Pier IOW – Kingswear Castle
In 1922 Cosens’ Emperor of India was chartered for one season only by the Cinque Ports Steam Navigation Company to run on the Sussex Coast. To find out more check out the February Pictures of the Month on the Kingswear Castle website: Emperor of India 1922 – Kingswear Castle
Interested in paddle steamer history? Ever wondered what was happening to some paddle steamer somewhere, sometime on this day in the past? Then check out the Kingswear Castle website and explore. As well as details of KC you will find a huge archive of 700 posts about paddle steamers. John Megoran started a Pictures of…
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It is sixty one years since St Trillo arrived on the Bristol Channel polarising opinion in the paddle steamer loving community. To find out more check out the Pictures of the Month on the KC website: December 2024: St Trillo – Kingswear Castle
On Friday 3rd October 1997 Waverley sailed up the River Medway to berth alongside the quay at the Historic Dockyard Chatham. To find out more click here: 3rd October 1997: Waverley – Kingswear Castle
Fancy a day trip on PS Balmoral from Southampton to Bournemouth via Ventnor on Monday 14th August 1939? Take a look at how the day panned out: 14th August 1939: Balmoral – Kingswear Castle
Although paddle steamer operator Cosens & Co of Weymouth had a pretty near monopoly on excursions to sea from Weymouth, if you exclude the motor boat trips from the beach and the harbour, they did not have the field entirely to themselves even amongst larger craft. To find out more check out the Pictures of…
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What sort of paddle steamer rides were available from Bournemouth seventy years ago in June 1953. To find out take a look at the June Pictures of the Month on the Kingswear Castle website: June 2023: June 1953 Bournemouth – Kingswear Castle
Ever wondered what leavers to push or which wheels to turn to make a paddle steamer engine go? To find out take a look at the April Pictures of the Month on the Kingswear Castle website: London Belle – Kingswear Castle
Fancy a trip aboard Princess Elizabeth around the Isle of Wight just after the war?
Ever wondered how long a paddle steamer galley flue lasts before disintegrating? To find out take a look at the February Pictures of the Month on the KC website: Galley Flues – Kingswear Castle
Kingswear Castle ran on the Medway and Thames from 1985 to 2012 from her then base at the Historic Dockyard Chatham. To see how we did it and attracted passengers up the gangway click here: 12th January 1989: SEETB Excursions Fair – Kingswear Castle
Fancy two trips down the Thames in the summer of 1949 aboard Royal Daffodil and the then brand new Queen of the Channel? Check out the January Pictures of the Month on the Kingswear Castle website: January 2023: Two Thames Trips 1949 – Kingswear Castle
